Weekly Writing Tip: Just Write!

When you get a new writing assignment or feel stuck on one you have had for a few days, just start writing. Do not worry about form. Get ideas down on paper or in a Word document. Some English instructors call this a zero draft.

• Include quotes that stood out to you from the story or articles you read (make sure to write down the author and page number so you don't have to look them up later).
• Using Word allows you to cut and paste and highlight when you are done with your writing session and you begin to organize your thoughts into a draft.
• When you are done writing, read through what you have and start looking for themes or main ideas. "Code" themes by highlighting ideas that go with one theme in the same color.

A zero draft can help you overcome the need to be perfect every time you write. Remember that writing is a process - you have many opportunities to make changes before you turn in a final draft. With that said, start your zero draft as soon as you get a new assignment.

Weekly Writing Tip: Read Aloud

Before you turn in a paper, read it out loud to yourself. Hearing what you have written will allow you to catch spelling errors, change wording, and clarify any points that don't quite sound the way you meant. You can also have someone else read your paper to you. Sometimes, when we have read our own work over and over, we can miss something even when reading aloud. It is always good to bring in a second set of eyes, and ears.

Financial Aid: Grants

Very important information regarding grant aid (Pell, FSEOG, and State Need Grant):

Most grant aid can only be awarded a maximum of 3 quarters in an academic year (Summer-Spring). This means students who begin school in Summer quarter and attend Fall and Winter quarter will not receive grant aid in Spring quarter. If you rely on aid from Pell, FSEOG, or the State Need Grant and plan to attend a fourth quarter in an academic year, you will need to plan ahead and figure out other forms of aid, like student loans or scholarships. Or, you will need to save money on your own from your grants each quarter to put towards the fourth quarter.

Special thanks to Katie V. of AmeriCorps for providing the information for this post.

FAFSA: Linking to the IRS

Federal financial aid programs have changed their method of verifying student income information. In the past, you may have brought in a copy of your tax return. Now, if you have not already done so, you need to go back to www.fafsa.ed.gov and link your FAFSA Financial Information to the IRS information about your taxes. Follow these steps to do so. If you have any questions, visit the Financial Aid Office on campus.

1) Go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ 

2) Click the orange "Start Here" button.

3) Enter your personal information.

4) Click on the 2012-2013 tab at the top of the page (you may already be on the right page).

5) Click on "Make FAFSA Corrections," a blue link about mid-page.

6) Enter you four-digit PIN and password.
7) Click on the Financial Information tab at the top of the page between Parent Demographics and Sign & Submit.
8) Your Financial Information page should look something like this. Click on the link at the bottom of the checklist, "View option to link to the IRS." This student already linked his/her information, so your form will have a different statement before the link, but the link will be in the same location.

9) Complete the IRS form with the exact information you used on your tax forms. If an error occurs and you very recently filed taxes, your taxes may not yet be processed. You will have to link your information at a later date. Check back in a few days and try again. If the link occurs correctly, you will be taken back to the FAFSA.
10) Click "Save" at the bottom of the page after you see that all of the blanks are filled in and say Transferred from the IRS above them.
11) Click on the Save & Submit tab at the top of the page. Follow the steps to submit your correction/link to the IRS information.

Eye Glide and Other Reading Woes

Reading textbooks can be difficult, and let's be honest, it can seem pretty boring sometimes, too. Consider these suggestions as you read. Turn your passive reading experience (the one where you spend more time spacing out and re-reading than learning) into a treasure hunt for knowledge. Yes, reading can be interesting and even fun!

Try the SQ3R method

• First survey the whole chapter assigned. Give yourself a good picture of what will be covered. What are the headings and bolded words? What tables stand out? 
• Then, develop questions to answer as you read. Use the review questions at the back of the chapter. Type them up and refer to them during your reading sessions. Also, ask yourself, "What is important? Why? What's an example?" Make three columns in a notebook and answer those questions as you go.
• Read in 20 minute chunks or read a section at a time. Take a break after that.
• When you finish a section, close the book and recite what you just read in your own words.
• When you finish the entire chapter, review your answers to the questions. Then, set your notes aside and see if you can answer the questions without them. Re-read any sections you still do not understand.

Highlight after you read

• Our tendency is to highlight far too much when we highlight as we read because everything seems important. Finish a section first and then highlight the main points.

Read the assigned chapter before class - or - Keep your class notes open as you read

• Use your textbook and notes to clarify each other.
• Note any questions you have and ask them in class as soon as you can.

Most of us have experienced eye glide, those times when you realize you have been reading for a while but you have no idea what you have read. Try the approaches above and check back in the future for more textbook reading tips. Leave a comment if you have any other suggestions for students to try.